Facebook reportedly canceled project for healthier political discussion

[Borealis]

https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-joel-kaplan-common-ground-conservative-bias-2018-12?utm_source=reddit.com

Facebook stopped working on a project, called "Common Ground," that was aimed at encouraging healthier political discourse among users, partially at the urging of policy chief Joel
Kaplan, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The "Common Ground" initiative is said to have consisted of many parts, including boosting news stories and status updates posted by people on the opposite end of the political
spectrum from users, while also demoting "toxic" comments that start "negative discussion."

Kaplan's objection, according to the report, was that the term "Common Ground" itself could be taken as patronizing, and that it would ask users to trust Facebook's definition of what
healthy conversation looks like.

Ultimately, Kaplan is said to have believed that these efforts to curb political polarization would have opened the platform up to criticism from conservatives — something that the
social network has sought to avoid in recent years, as conservative lawmakers and public figures have accused it of left-wing bias.

Following Kaplan's complaint, Zuckerberg and others raised concerns over how the initiative would affect Facebook user engagement, and the project was shelved, says the Journal.

Kaplan came into the public eye earlier this year when he visibly seated himself behind Justice Brett Kavanaugh, then an embattled nominee for the Supreme Court, as the judge
defended himself against allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women. Kaplan and Kavanaugh are long-time friends, dating back to their time serving together in the
George W. Bush administration.

[That Sprite]

"That won't make us money!"

[Fulgrim]

I can never get over just how much the Zucc looks like a fucking Thin-Man from XCOM.

He has no style- he has no grace- facebook man is from outer space.

[Mr. Someguy]

Their plan to do nothing and allow far-right propaganda to take hold was masterfully executed, noone can accuse you of liberal bias when you're letting Nazis and Russians sway the narrative!

[Swilly]

So when are we taking hammers to their servers already?

[Borealis]

They have these

https://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/portal_sentry_turret.jpg

[polarbear]

The article brings up some very valid points - there is a huge contradiction in making a "common ground" initiative. It may work to define what is considered "toxic" in a discussion, but how the hell are you supposed to define what is offensive or, as the initiative put in its own words, "negative discussion"? You literally cannot have a political argument without offending someone. The basic concept of the project seems counterintuitive to reaching the actual goal of preventing polarization.